Friday, April 8, 2011

Why is Huckabee Ashamed of Christ?

What!? How can you say that Huckabee is ashamed of Christ?! He served for 12 years as a Baptist minister. This is just an outrageous, unsupportable, hit piece on a man of God! Au contraire. Huckabee has gone to great lengths to hide the entire body of sermons that he gave while serving as a Baptist minister.

He and his handlers have also taken steps to block access to videotapes of his sermons, spanning his 12 years as a Southern Baptist minister before he entered politics. During the 2008 campaign, Mother Jones reported that Huckabee's campaign had refused to make the sermons public---and that, according to an official at one of the churches he'd led, much of the archival material relating to Huckabee's tenure had been destroyed.

So why is Huckabee ashamed of his service to Christ? Why does he have to hide his sermons?Here are a few passages from the Bible (King James Translation) that he should chew on.

Mark 8:38 "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ..."

Romans 9:33 "...and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

2 Timothy 1:8 "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"

2 Timothy 1:12 "...I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

1 Peter 4:16 "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on his behalf."

41 comments:

Huckanonymous, LDS bishops rarely give sermons. They call members of their ward to give talks in church every Sunday. That is not to say that Romney hasn't given talks in Church. I am sure that he has given several in his 60 some years as a member of the LDS church. Why don't you ask him to make them public? I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem with that.

DanL, just curious, is there anything specific that Huckabee is supposed to have said that he is trying to hide? You know, today we're used to everything being recorded by everyone, but that hasn't always been the case. Back then, he was just a baptist pastor, no reason to write down every word he ever said.

John, I don't know what he said. I just think it's very suspicious that he won't release those sermons for public scrutiny. According to the article I quoted (see above) there were video tapes of his sermons that he is blocking from being released.

It's pretty obvious why, and something every Rombot should appreciate.

He doesn't want to spend an entire campaign discussing his theology.

"Why do you believe the rapture will occur before the Tribulation?"

"Do you REALLY believe Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire?"

"What do you mean, wives submit to your husbands?"

"Why did God command the Israelites to slay the Amalikites?"

"How many angels were at the tomb of Jesus?"

"Is circumcision okay?"

"Should women cover their heads in church? Why or why not?"

"Can non-Christians be saved? Why or why not?"

"What about people who have never heard of Jesus?"

"In what sense is the Bible inerrant?"

"Is the Bible historically and scientifically literal in all respects?"

and on and on it goes.....................

This is pure baiting, Dan, and you know it. It would be akin to asking Romney to give a series of lectures, taking us through the Book of Mormon. If he demurred, would that mean he's ashamed of his faith? No, it would mean that's not really his calling right now.

Similarly with Huck, explicit Baptist preaching is apparently not his calling right now.

I have to agree with MWS on this one. There is a potential goldmine in Huck's sermons that would destroy him politically and professionally. I really don't blame Huck for blocking their release. Every pastor that preaches the Bible is going to say things that won't be understood by the general public.

Really Matt? Is Huckabee a disciple of Christ or not? Wasn't he an ordained minister? Peter and Paul said some pretty controversial things in their ministries and weren't ashamed to committ their views, which were heretical at the time, to paper and send epistles.

The LDS church holds a general conference twice a year. There are 5 sessions at 2 hours each. So 10 hours of talks. All those talks are recorded on video and the video and audio files are on the internet within 24 hours on LDS.org. The transcripts are posted even more quickly. All the talks are reproduced in a church magazine, the Ensign.

Huckabee and many other Baptist preachers have been only too happy to tap into the LDS church's resources, that are made public for everyone to view, and use those resources to bash Mormons and LDS theology from their pulpits. Huck was only too willing to take LDS theology and distort it for his political gain when he asked the Satan/Jesus question.

Romney didn't shrink from his religion and even gave a speech on it. For which he was ridiculed by some of those anti Romney folks.

Matt, it is nice to see you here. Stop by more often. Don't you get tired of the bickering at Race? On the few occassions that I stop by there I skip about 90% of the comments. There are half a dozen commenters who generate 90% of the comments, none of which actually say anything other than rah rah rah or blah blah blah. Yes there are still some good writers over there and that is why I do go there every once in a while. But the commentary is mostly worthless.

I'm sure it is nothing comparable to what Jeremiah Wright has said, but could still make other uncomfortable. When I first glanced at this title I, with a stigmatism and without contacts in, thought it said "why is Christ ashamed of Huckabee, which would seem more fitting!

He is a "wolfe in sheeps clothing," and I have found this to be true with most preachers, pastors...who take money for their religious "service" and who'm you see driving mercedes and Lexus vehicles which they have purchased from the donations from their congregations.

This is why religious service should be just that- service. No money involved.

Huckabee can't have it both ways. He called himself the Christian Leader, but won't reveal what is was he taught or believed that made him a Christian Leader. He used his own faith for political gain, thus opening the door to inquiry.

HE is the one who made the campaign all about religion, for crying out loud. If you call yourself a Christian Leader, you better be prepared to back up why, how, etc. Why on earth would he hide the fact that he preached Christ's gospel, if that is all he did? The great majority of Americans are Christian, so he has no reason to fear.

An indisputable fact is that many Baptist preachers are strongly anti-Mormon, and preach it from the pulpit. How are we to know whether or not Huckabee did this, and do we have a right to know? I think under the circumstances of the race he ran against Romney, we do have a right/need to know. He used Romney's faith/doctrine against him for political gain.

I agree with Dan. The LDS church has nothing to hide and makes the doctrine available to all. If Huck only preached Christ, then he ought to release the sermons and prove that he was not an anti-Mormon preacher.

This is why religious service should be just that- service. No money involved.

Really??? I was always taught and read myself that the reason we were supposed to give tithes and offerings was to make sure God's servants were taken care of properly.

2 Chronicles 31:11-21 “ Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them, And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully… in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small...his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses; Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses; And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness: Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”

Nehemiah 10:37 “And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.”

Nehemiah 12:44-47 “And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.”Nehemiah 13:5 “ And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

Malachi 3:10 “ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Luke 10:2-7 “ Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.”

1 Timothy 5:17-18 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

Granny, I know there are many good preachers out there who do not take advantage of their flocks for material gain. The trouble is that there are also quite a few of the kind Spenza mentioned.

Unfortunately, Huckabee himself has strong ties to these nefarious types who preach the 'prosperity gospel' on TV. They trick little old ladies and stupid people into believing God will make them rich if they only send in some money. These people get rich off the backs of the poor and stupid. I think it is utterly reprehensible, and Huck is friends with these people. Doesn't that bother you at all?

I'm very glad that I belong to a church where service is just that--service.

Huckabee's career started at 14, when he worked on the radio with the news and weather broadcasts. In 1972 Huckabee was elected as a Governor of Arkansas Boys State and is a Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Alumnus. Also he became a student council president at the Hope High School in 1973. He has been graduated as magna cum laude at Ouachita Baptist University, completing his bachelor's degree in Religion in 2Ѕ years before starting to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. After one year he has given up the seminary in order to have a job in Christian broadcasting. He has two honorary doctoral degrees: in 1991 John Brown University graduated him a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, and Ouachita Baptist University graduated him a Doctor of Laws degree in 1992.

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A large part of Huckabee's adult life was spent for being a pastor and denominational leadership. He is the youngest president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, known as the largest denomination in Arkansas.

Martha,If he were foolish enough to release his audio or video sermons the media would nitpick over every single doctrine the world cannot understand about Christians. They'd take short soundbites out of context. Only a fool would knowingly give in to that.

As I've said many times, the speech Huckabee gave in Utah was about his book. The whole transcript was posted online by one of the news outlets in Arkansas during the '08 primary season. There was NOTHING said about Mormons. He LEFT right after speaking on Sunday night BEFORE the controversial conference started on Tuesday. My old laptop crashed that had the link saved for which paper posted the transcript or I'd give you the information so you could order a copy. I know they took the online version down and it was archived for purchase shortly after the primary season. There aren't that many major newspapers in Arkansas - so if it's really that important to you - contact them and order it.

Granny, Either Huck is ashamed of his teachings or not. He called himself the Christian Leader, so he should show why.

I've seen the newspaper report from the SLC speech. I was not aware of an actual transcript of the speech. Nevertheless, it does not matter to me. The whole conference was to poke a finger in the eye of the LDS church. Huck was the keynote. I don't care that he came and left early. He participated.

Do you know what these people did in SLC? They went door to door telling Mormons they were going to hell. They had literature that was filled with lies and distortions about Mormonism. Things with titles like Mormonism Unmaksed! I'm sorry, this is not the kind of effort reasonable people would support. Mormon missionaries offer the gospel of Jesus Christ preached with love, they don't go out and lie about other faiths, or try to scare people.

Huckabee willingly associated himself with this effort by agreeing to be their keynote. He cannot walk back from it, no matter what he said, or did not say, during the speech.

I believe it would benefit Huckabee to release the sermons and prove that he never preached against Mormonism. It would go a long way to repair the damage he did in 07-08.

Christ himself told his disciples not to hide their candles under a bushel. But that is exactly what Huck is doing.

"If he were foolish enough to release his audio or video sermons the media would nitpick over every single doctrine the world cannot understand about Christians. They'd take short soundbites out of context. Only a fool would knowingly give in to that."

And how have things changed since Christ's disciples carried his doctrine to the world after he died? They were constantly being misrepresented by their enemies. But they had a mandate from Christ to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Frankly your sentiment expressed above strikes me very much that Baptists (and Evangelicals) believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ can only be understood by them and is only for them. Everyone else can just burn in heck.

Peter, James, John, Stepyhen and all the other disciples wouldn't let opposition to the gospel deter them from proclaiming it to hostile crowds. They were true disciples of Christ.

Thanks. Race is like a comfortable old shoe. Sometimes it smells, but it's still comfortable......

As for Huck, I don't think he's ashamed at all. But one cannot be a preacher and a Presidential candidate at the same time (ask Pat Robertson). If he was constantly talking theology, he would be accused of wanting to create a "theocracy." But when people ask him direct questions, he answers. For instance, I thought his answer to the bush league question on Galatians (wives submit) he got at the SC debate last time was brilliant. He didn't squirm away or apologize, but he answered in a way that wouldn't offend (reasonable) non-believers.

It seems to me that if you held Romney to the same standard you present for Huck in your last comment, he should be out talking about Joseph Smith and all things Mormon, not taxes and China and deficits.

So if Huckabee during the campaign in 08 ran ads in Iowa saying he was a "christian leader" and then ran the same ad in new hampshire saying he was the "proven leader", Is this considered being ashamed of Jesus Christ, or just pandering somehow to the two sides?

Matt...listen to yourself before you ask? What does that have to do with him running for president and politics? If romney had audio tapes of him giving talks in church on sundays, im sure people could find it and analyze it, i personally think it has nothing to do with it, but the critics will look into it. The difference is Romney wouldnt be hiding or have access to it blocked, like Huckabee is doing.

Romney didn't call himself a Christian Leader, and his talks in church were not recorded. I'm sure that if they were, he would not hide them.

But, we're not talking about digging into Christian theology to determine if Huck is fit for office, as you suggest for Mormonism and Romney. We're digging into what Huck actually said during those sermons, and why on earth he is hiding them.

-Martha

PS race is only a shadow of it's former self. Guys like Craig, TEX and teledude have ruined it. I still enjoy reading comments from the old crowd, but the site seems to have lost a lot of good commenters.

Dan, I think Romney has done a lot of good for the church just doing what he is doing, because he is a great example of personal and family values. But more importantly, I think he would be a great asset as POTUS, which is equally important as serving in the church.

In case you havent followed the 08 campaign matt, plenty of people dove into mormon theology and made unfair assessments of romney's religion. But the curch or romney arent blocking anything from the public.

Dan, I disagree....we are in a craphole today. I honestly believe someone with our values needs to takeover. Someone who can read out loud during a state of the union address the "proclamation to the family" LOL

Martha, I agree that Romney has done good for the Church in his political roles. But I believe that a full time missionary Romney has more to offer than a President Romney. And I think that there are better folks out there to be president.

Because it's not relevant to the Presidency, and an unnecessary distraction. All campaigns try to avoid those. While I acknowledge that running as "A Christian Leader" (but not THE Christian leader) invites a little more scrutiny, I think it's perfectly understandable why the guy wouldn't want to have every sermon scrutinized under a microscope.

I use to go to a baptist church and the pastor did criticize the mormons,among other sects in front of the congregation. Now im not saying huckabee did, but im sure it has a good reason for why he wouldnt like his sermons to be made public.